Disney reaches vaccination agreement with union workers

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Florida’s Walt Disney World will now require union employees as well as non-union and salaried workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to keep their jobs at the theme park.

The deal was reached Monday with a union coalition, shortly after the Pfizer vaccine earned full Food and Drug Administration approval. It requires the workers to show proof of vaccination by Oct. 22 to remain employed, although employees can request exemptions for medical or religious reasons, a union statement said.

They’re kind, courageous and counting down the days until the 50th Anniversary celebration begins! ???? Who is your favorite Disney Princess? #DisneyWorld50 #UltimatePrincessCelebration pic.twitter.com/6BpBH60y71

— Walt Disney World (@WaltDisneyWorld) August 23, 2021

Any employee who doesn’t comply, and doesn’t request an exemption, will be “separated from the company with a ‘yes’ rehire status,” according to the Service Trades Council Union. Before layoffs and furloughs due to the pandemic, the coalition covered about 43,000 of 77,000 Disney World workers.

Disney announced last month that all non-union hourly and salaried employees would be required to receive the vaccine within 60 days. The company also asked all employees who were working from home to show proof of vaccination before returning to work.

The company will hold vaccination on-site vaccine events for employees over the next several weeks, the union statement said.

It comes as Walt Disney World Resort is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary, with several high-profile events and attractions planned to entice visitors to return to the park.

Among them, Cirque du Soleil, which will premiere ‘Drawn to Life’ on Nov. 18. in Florida.

The show was supposed to start in March 2020 but had to be paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Earlier this month, the Walt Disney Co. swung to a profit in its most recent quarter as reopened parks provided a revenue bounce.

Revenue in the parks and products division surged to $4.3 billion from $1.1 billion a year ago, as theme parks closed last year were open for part or all of this year’s quarter. Disney World in Florida has been open since last summer; California’s Disneyland only came back at the end of April.